Mourning & Bereavement
Children
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Children's Developmental Stages and Loss
From Piaget's Stages of Development

Sensorimotor (Age 0-2)

"All gone" view of death; out of sight, out of mind
Disappearance/reappearance games
Loss is result of being bad

Preoperational Age 2-6

"Magical, egocentric and casual view of death
Children see death as temporary or partial
Not inevitable
Caused by thoughts/feelings/actions
Accidental
See death as a form of punishment
May ask questions over and over again to test reality
Stories about dead pets and other animals is helpful

Concrete Operations Age 7-12

Curious and realistic view of death
They can comprehend the concept of "afterlife" at this stage
Real but distant and external
Causes and consequences of loss and death
Limited personal reference
Gender begins to become a factor
May talk about loss but not necessarily to parents
Feel that if they act normal things will be normal

Formal Operations Age 13 and up

Self-absorbed view of death
Understanding of mortality
Death as a natural process
Permanent
Irreversible
Have a tendency to idealize the deceased
May refuse support
May feel a need to protect their parents